I am officially declaring Week 6 of the fantasy football season “Running Back Revolving Door” week. After several teams have been dealt injuries to their major backs, a lot of unproven young rookies or players in their first few years will be getting starts this weekend. This is an absolute mine field and should be treated as such. Vick Ballard, whom nobody had heard of a week ago, is listed as “Must start” all over the place. I’m assuming your fantasy team isn’t that hard up for options, so you won’t see that here. Nor will you see unwarranted love for Alex Green (Packers), LaRod Stephens-Howling (Cardinals) or William Powell (Cardinals) .

This is the crow I will eat if I’m wrong and Vick Ballard & company put up HUGE numbers this weekend.

(His name is Chauncey. He does not look delicious)

Now before I get into the week 6 “start ‘em/sit ‘em” picks, I invite you to take a look at the bottom of this article to see how my predictions panned out last week. I’m all about honesty here, and you should know how right/wrong I am if you’re going to consider my advice.

Full disclosure my fantasy friends. That’s the only way this relationship is going to work.

But before we get to that, let’s take a look at my week 6 picks.

START ‘EM

1. Reggie Bush – Dolphins RB (vs. St. Louis)

Outlook: The Rams run defense has allowed the 6th most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. Not only that, but Reggie Bush has posted some surprisingly good numbers as the Dolphins feature back and is also a constant threat to catch passes out of the backfield. The reason I’m so high on Bush this week (and not Vick Ballard. I’ll get to him, don’t worry), is because rookie QB Ryan Tannehill is becoming a bigger threat through the air. If Tannehill continues to build a solid chemistry with Brian “the Hitman” Hartline, that will open up the box for Bush and lead to some big fantasy totals. The only worry is that the Rams is coming off an impressive performance against the run, but considering that game was against Arizona, those stats are near-meaningless.

2. Peyton Manning – Broncos QB (vs. San Diego)

Outlook: Manning deserves a start this week in another matchup I fully expect to turn into a shootout. Both he and Philip Rivers love to throw the ball, so I expect them to do a healthy amount of that on Monday night. The game is in San Diego, which means that any question marks about how Manning plays outdoors in the high altitude of Denver are nullified. The Chargers defense ranks in the top 10 for most fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs, but they don’t appear that high on the RB category. Manning has tons of weapons at his disposal through the air, so expect him to take full advantage.

3. Julio Jones – Falcons WR (vs. Oakland)

Outlook: Julio Jones, Roddy White, it really doesn’t matter at this point. I like Julio more, so that is why I give him the start this week, but if you have White, start him too. The Oakland pass defense has been laughable in the first few weeks of the season allowing 27.9 points per game to opposing WRs. Couple that with the fact that Falcons QB Matt Ryan is making a strong push for NFL MVP this year, and I’d say there will definitely be fantasy returns for anyone catching balls for Atlanta this week. Hell, if you’ve got the holy trinity of Jones, White and TE Tony Gonzalez, I will guarantee you will win this week. Only downside is the Falcons may start running the ball if they are crushing the Raiders.

4. Demaryius Thomas – Broncos WR (vs. New England)

Outlook: Thomas is right close to being declared a fantasy must-start every week, so this might be his last appearance here. Nothing I can say about him hasn’t been said before. He’s Mannings #1 target, he is a physical beast and I truly believe he will be one of the top 5 WRs for the next few years. I’m high on him, and I have been for a long time. Start this guy if you got him. If you don’t? Try and put together a trade package for him.

5. Owen Daniels – Texans TE (vs. Green Bay)

Outlook: When it comes to tight ends, your bread and butter is points scored from touchdowns. Aside from the elite class (Gates, Davis, Gonzalez) receiving yards aren’t going to be a huge boon to your team from the TE position. So, with the emphasis on touchdowns, I suggest you start a guy who has scored in the last 3 games AND is playing a Packers defense that has allowed just over 10 points per game to opposing TEs.

SIT ‘EM

1. Vincent Jackson – Bucs WR (vs. Kansas City)

Outlook: Say what you will about Kansas City, their defense is absolutely not the problem from a fantasy standpoint. They have allowed the least points to opposing WRs in the league, and this week face a Vincent Jackson who can’t decide week to week whether he is a good option or a complete bust. Seeing as how he doesn’t have a favourable matchup (to put it lightly), stick him on your bench and look for another viable option via matchup.

2. Brandon Lloyd – Patriots WR (vs. Seattle)

Outlook: This is the second week in a row I’ve suggested sitting a Brandon who plays WR against the Seattle Seahawks and their increasingly awesome defense. I make very little changes to my suggestion this week, and you can see how that worked out for me in week 5 down in the “Full Disclosure Corner” section.

3. Alex Green – Packers RB (vs. Houston)

Outlook: It’s time for the obligatory “Sit whomever is playing RB against the Houston Texans”. While Houston might not be the best fantasy defense against the run (ranking 4th in points allowed to RBs), the Packers are dealing with the loss of Cedric Benson which puts a lot of pressure on unproven commodity Alex Green. As I said before, this is officially the week of questionable running backs, so when one of those guys comes up against the Texans, you sit him. You sit him hard.

4. ANY ARIZONA RUNNING BACK – Cardinals RB (vs. Buffalo)

Outlook: The Cardinals are playing a Bills defense that has allowed the second most points to fantasy RBs this season. To that I say: “Big freaking whoop”. The Redbirds have been unable to run the ball even with Ryan Williams and Beanie Wells, so what chance do the 3rd and 4th stringers have? Starting players purely based on matchup can get you killed in fantasy football, there are a lot more factors at play. Why is Vick Ballard a sleeper this week and not a start/sit? Because the Colts have a balanced offense, that’s why. Any identity the Cardinals try to have on the ground is a hard sell. Buffalo is just as vulnerable through the air, so I expect that to be the Cards strategy before putting all their eggs in LaRod Stephens-Howling or William Powell’s baskets.

5. Hakeem Nicks – Giants WR (vs. San Francisco)

Outlook: I hate to do it. I hate to sit my man Hakeem Nicks, but with him being a “Game time decision” after missing the last few games with a nagging knee injury, I’m wary about starting him. That wary feeling turns into absolute dread when I realize that “Game” he’s making a timed decision for is against a 49ers defense that has allowed the 9th least fantasy points to opposing WRs. I’m a Nicks owner, and a Nicks fan, but I’m firmly planting him on my bench and looking at a sleeper option instead.

SLEEPERS

1. Vick Ballard – Colts RB (vs. New York Jets)

Outlook: What? I don’t have Vick Ballard in the #1 “Start ’em” spot? He’s going to put up huge numbers this weekend and be a fantasy godsend for all who were smart enough to pick him up blah blah BLAH. This guy is the definition of sleeper, so he belongs here. Everything I read/hear/sense/smell has been touting Vick Ballard all week. When it comes to fantasy impact that is PURELY based on matchup (be honest, this is absolutely one of those times) and the player has done nothing to warrant a start aside from being healthy, it belongs in the sleeper category. We’ll find out next week if I’m wrong and he puts up huge numbers, but I say start with caution and if you have another option, use it. His upside is high due to the Jets dreadful 31st ranked run defense, but a must start? No sir.

2. Brandon Gibson – Rams WR (vs. Miami)

Outlook: The Dolphins are pretty awesome against the run, and the Rams could very easily end up trailing in this game, so expect QB Sam Bradford to give plenty of looks to Gibson. With WR1 Danny Amendola out for a few weeks, Gibson will have to step up his production if the Rams wish to remain a threat in the NFC West.

3. Sidney Rice – Seahawks WR (vs. New England)

Outlook: Normally I like to include a RB, WR and QB in the sleepers category, but I’ve just got a gut feeling that Sidney Rice could be a huge flex option this weekend against a Patriots team that has given up the 3rd most fantasy points to opposing WRs. If not for the fact that he has unproven and uneven rookie Russell Wilson throwing him the ball, Rice would be a must start.

FULL DISCLOSURE CORNER – RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK’S PICKS

Looking at the numbers from the last few weeks, I’ve done right by you.

Last week is no exception. It is safe to say I did right by all of you across the board.

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